QuestionQUESTION: I hit a pedestrian. She came away with minor bumps and bruises. There was a police report and I called the insurance company right away. I was driving a borrowed car. Can I settle with the woman to pay her doctor bills and some lost wages without using the insurance agent? I want to avoid my friend who loaned me his car having his rates increased and his record damaged.
ANSWER: You hit a pedestrian and want to settle without insurance???
Oh my God.
Your friend, who owns the car is the one who is facing very serious liability here. This could be a financially life altering event for him and you're thinking that you are smart enough to protect him?
Please get over yourself and tell him what happened. You guys need to get the insurance company involved and very quickly.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thanks but my friend knows what happened, I called him right away. And as I said I called the insurance company and they are involved.
AnswerYou cannot be negotiating with a party at the same time that the insurance company is set to be doing the same. If they were notified, they need to handle everything to protect your's and your friend's financial interest.
Good luck and I'm glad that it wasn't more serious than it is.
